Grave-Bound

All white necromancers are interested in undeath as one third of the necromantic triad, but a grave-bound white necromancer take this a step further and bonds with a specific undead companion. Eventually, a grave-bound white necromancer takes on undead qualities himself.

Grave-Bound Class Features

Grave Bond (Su)

At 5th level, a grave-bound white necromancer forms a supernatural bond with an undead creature selected from the Undead Companion Choices list. An undead companion is so closely connected to its master that it shares his alignment exactly and is unswervingly loyal to him. See the undead companions section below for complete details.

This ability replaces life bond.

Of the Grave (Ex)

At 17th level, the grave-bound white necromancer begins to take on undead traits. He gains resist cold 10 and DR 5/—. Unintelligent undead do not notice the grave-bound white necromancer unless he attacks them. He receives a +4 morale bonus on saving throws made against spells and spell-like abilities cast by undead.

This ability replaces protective aura.

Empathic Link (Su)

The master has an empathic link with his undead companion when they are within one mile of each other. The master can communicate empathically with the undead companion, but he cannot see through its eyes. Because of the link’s limited nature, only general emotions can be shared. The master has the same connection to an item or place that his undead companion does.

Speak with Master (Ex)

If the master is 6th level or higher, an undead companion and the master can communicate verbally as if they were using a common language. Other creatures do not understand the communication without magical help.

Evasion (Ex)

If an undead companion is subjected to an attack that normally allows a Reflex save for half damage, it takes no damage if it makes a successful saving throw.

Scry on Undead Companion (Sp)

If the master is 13th level or higher, he may scry on his undead companion (as if casting the scrying spell) once per day.

Improved Evasion (Ex)

When subjected to an attack that allows a Reflex saving throw for half damage, an undead companion takes no damage if it makes a successful saving throw and only half damage if the saving throw fails.

Undead Companions

Unlike normal undead, an undead companion’s Hit Dice, abilities, skills, and feats advance as the grave-bound white necromancer advances in level. Although typically not as powerful as others of its kind, undead companions gain additional abilities when their white necromancer master reaches 8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th level. The specific abilities gained are detailed in each undead companion’s entry.

If an undead companion is destroyed, or the grave-bound white necromancer chooses to dismiss it, the white necromancer must attempt a Fortitude save (DC 12 + the undead companion’s HD). If the saving throw fails, the grave-bound white necromancer gains one temporary negative level. A successful saving throw avoids this negative level. A destroyed or dismissed undead companion cannot be replaced for 24 hrs.

The choice of undead companion should be made based on the grave-bound white necromancer’s history and background. See below of example undead companions. Here are a few ideas though:

• an undead companion who is the ghost of a long-dead ancestor;
• a skeletal companion who, when alive, was part of an elite guard sworn to protect the grave-bound white necromancer’s family;
• one of the grave-bound white necromancer’s (or his family’s) recently deceased, fiercely loyal servants, who has returned as a zombie to continue that servitude.

Table: Undead Companion Base Statistics

Class Level	HD	BAB	Fort	Ref	Will	Skills	Feats	AC Bonus	Special
5th	3	+2	+3	+1	+3	4	1	+0	Empathic link, share spells
6th	4	+3	+3	+1	+3	6	2	+0	Speak with master
7th	5	+3	+4	+1	+4	6	2	+2	Evasion
8th	5	+3	+4	+1	+4	8	2	+2	8th level advancement
9th	6	+4	+5	+2	+5	10	3	+2	—
10th	7	+5	+5	+2	+5	12	3	+4	—
11th	8	+6	+6	+2	+6	12	4	+4	—
12th	8	+6	+6	+2	+6	14	4	+4	12th level advancement
13th	9	+6	+7	+3	+7	16	4	+6	Scry on undead companion
14th	10	+7	+7	+3	+7	18	5	+6	—
15th	11	+8	+8	+3	+8	18	5	+8	Improved evasion
16th	11	+8	+8	+3	+8	20	5	+8	16th level advancement
17th	12	+9	+8	+4	+8	22	6	+10	—
18th	13	+9	+9	+4	+9	24	6	+10	—
19th	14	+10	+10	+5	+10	24	7	+12	—
20th	14	+10	+10	+5	+10	26	7	+12	20th level advancement

Table: Undead Companion Base Statistics details

Class Level: This is the character’s white necromancer level.

HD: This is the total number of eight-sided (d8) Hit Dice the undead companion possesses, each of which gains additional hp based on its Charisma modifier, if any.

BAB: This is the undead companion’s base attack bonus. Undead companions do not gain additional attacks using their natural weapons for a high base attack bonus.

Fort/Ref/Will: These are the undead companion’s base saving throw bonuses.

Skills: This lists the undead’s total skill ranks (an undead companion adds its Intelligence modifier, if any, to this total). An undead companion cannot have more ranks in a skill than it has Hit Dice. Undead companions can assign skill ranks to any skill. The following are considered class skills: Climb, Disguise, Fly, Intimidate, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (religion), Perception, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, and Stealth.

Feats: This is the total number of feats possessed by an undead companion. Undead companions can select any feat that they qualify for, although specific types of undead companion may be unable to utilize certain feats.

Special: This includes a number of abilities gained by undead companions as they increase in power. Each of these bonuses is described below.

Share Spells: A grave-bound white necromancer may cast a spell with a target of “you” on his undead companion (as a touch spell) instead of on himself. He may also cast spells on his undead companion even if the spells do not normally affect creatures of the undead companion type (undead).

Undead Companion Save DCs: An undead companion’s Difficulty Class (DC) for saves associated with any of the abilities listed in its entry below is equal to 10 + the undead companion’s HD + the white necromancer’s Charisma modifier.

An undead companion’s base abilities are determined both by the grave-bound white necromancer’s level and its undead traits. Table: Undead Companion Base Statistics determines many of the undead companion’s base statistics. They remain creatures of the undead type for purposes of determining which spells can affect them.

An undead companion has the following features (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).

• d8 Hit Die.
• A +4 bonus on Will saves made to halve damage from positive channeled energy.
• Cannot be turned or commanded.

Traits: An undead companion has the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).

• No Constitution Score. Undead companions use their Charisma score in place of their Constitution score when calculating hp and any special ability that relies on Constitution.
• Darkvision 60 ft.
• Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
• Immunity to bleed, death effects, disease, paralysis, poison, sleep effects, and stunning.
• Not subject to nonlethal damage, ability drain, or energy drain. Immune to damage to its physical ability scores (Constitution, Dexterity, and Strength), as well as to exhaustion and fatigue effects.
• Immunity to any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects or is harmless).
• Not at risk of death from massive damage, but is immediately destroyed when reduced to 0 hp.
• Not affected by raise dead and reincarnate spells or abilities. Resurrection and true resurrection can affect undead creatures. These spells turn undead creatures back into the living creatures they were before becoming undead.
• Proficient with its natural weapons, all simple weapons, and any weapons mentioned in its entry.
• Undead companions do not breathe, eat, or sleep.

Undead Companion Choices

Ghost

Starting Statistics

Size Medium; Speed fly 30 ft (perfect).; AC 17; Attack ghostly touch (2d6); Ability Scores Str —, Dex 12, Con —, Int 12, Wis 11, Cha 19; Defensive Abilities incorporeal, Special Qualities speaks Common.

8th Level Advancement

12th Level Advancement

16th Level Advancement

20th Level Advancement

Mummy

Starting Statistics

Size Medium; Speed 20 ft.; AC 15; Attack slam 1d8; Ability Scores Str 20, Dex 10, Con —, Int 6, Wis 15, Cha 15; Weaknesses vulnerable to fire.

8th Level Advancement

12th Level Advancement

16th Level Advancement

20th Level Advancement

Shadow

Starting Statistics

Size Medium; Speed fly 40 ft. (good); AC 15; Attack strength damage; Ability Scores Str —, Dex 14, Con —, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 15; Defensive Abilities incorporeal.

A shadow companion receives a +4 bonus to Stealth in dim light (–4 in bright light). It cannot create spawn.

8th Level Advancement

12th Level Advancement

16th Level Advancement

20th Level Advancement

Skeleton

Starting Statistics

Size Medium; Speed 30 ft.; AC 13 (+1 Dex, +2 natural), Attack 2 claws 1d4 or per weapon; Ability Scores Str 17, Dex 13, Con —, Int 9, Wis 10, Cha 14; Defensive Abilities DR 5/bludgeoning Immune cold.

Since a skeletal companion’s combat prowess is based largely on its arms and armor, a grave-bound white necromancer typically normally outfits his companion with the best weapons, armor, and magic possible.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

A skeletal companion is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light armor, medium armor, and shields (except tower shields).

8th Level Advancement

12th Level Advancement

16th Level Advancement

20th Level Advancement

Vampire

Starting Statistics

Size Medium; Speed 30 ft.; AC 17 (+4 Dex, +3 natural); Attack slam (1d4); Ability Scores Str 16, Dex 18, Con —, Int 14, Wis 16 Cha 19; Special Attacks blood drain Special Qualities speaks Common Weaknesses vampire weaknesses.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency

A vampire companion is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, light armor and medium armor.

8th level Advancement

12th Level Advancement

16th Level Advancement

20th Level Advancement

Zombie

Starting Statistics

Size Medium Speed 30 ft.; AC 16 (+2 natural); Attack slam (1d6); Ability Scores Str 17, Dex 10, Con —, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 14; Special Qualities staggered; Defensive Abilities DR 5/slashing.

8th Level Advancement

12th Level Advancement

16th Level Advancement

20th Level Advancement